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Continuous Integration

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Continuous Integration - Developer

Harness Certified Expert - CI DeveloperProduct version: Harness CI Free/Team Plans

Review Study Guide

Assesses the fundamental skills to deploy CI projects.
ObjectiveMaterial
1. Understanding of CI/CD Concepts and Best Practices
Distinguish between Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, and Continuous DeploymentHarness Continuous Integration (CI) overview
Identify key concepts related to CI/CD pipelines and their stepsKey concepts
Recognize best practices for implementing CI/CD in software development workflowsOptimization strategies
2. Harness CI Pipeline Creation and Optimization
Construct a Harness CI pipeline and establish its stages and stepsCI onboarding guide
Diagnose and resolve common errors and issues within the CI pipelineTroubleshoot CI
Implement strategies to optimize pipeline execution and minimize build timesOptimization strategies
3. Utilization and Management of Harness Connectors and Integrations
Configure and manage various Harness Connectors (e.g., Docker, Git)Configure codebase
Understand and implement integration with different platforms and OSWhat's supported by CI
4. Implementing and Managing Docker and Containerization in Harness CI
Establish Docker connectivity and manage Docker connectorsBuild and Push to Docker
Develop and optimize Dockerfile configurations and image handlingHarness CI images
Diagnose and mitigate common Docker-related issues and errorsTroubleshoot CI
5. Harness CI Configuration and Codebase Management
Understand and implement the configuration of Harness CI CodebaseConfigure codebase
Optimize and manage code repository, connectors, and trigger settingsOptimization strategies
6. Authentication and Security Management in Harness CI
Configure and manage authentication methods for various connectors (e.g., Git, Docker)Using Git Credentials from Codebase Connector in CI Pipeline's Run Step
Implement and utilize Secrets Management tools with Harness CIUse secrets managers
Understand and implement access control using Harness RBAC configurationsRole-based access control (RBAC) in Harness
7. Implementing and Utilizing Test Intelligence in Harness CI
Configure and synchronize Harness Test Intelligence with main/master branchesTest Intelligence overview
Implement strategies to improve and optimize test execution timesTest step
8. Advanced CI Features and Troubleshooting in Harness
Implement and utilize advanced features like caching and conditional executions in CIDefine conditional executions for stages and steps
Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve common issues and errors in CI stagesTroubleshoot CI
9. Implementation of Plugins and Extensions in Harness CI
Understand, install, and manage plugins in the Harness CI environmentUse Drone plugins
Implement use-cases using various Harness CI and third-party pluginsExplore plugins

Exam Details

The Continuous Integration Developer exam tests your knowledge and skills of the Harness Integration Delivery module.

Prerequisites

  • Basic terminal skills
  • Basic understanding of on-premise or cloud architecture

Exam Details

Exam Duration: 90 minutes
Question Type: Multiple choice

Covered Domain% of Coverage
1. Understanding of CI/CD Concepts and Best Practices12%
2. Harness CI Pipeline Creation and Optimization11%
3. Utilization and Management of Harness Connectors and Integrations11%
4. Implementing and Managing Docker and Containerization in Harness CI11%
5. Harness CI Configuration and Codebase Management11%
6. Authentication and Security Management in Harness CI11%
7. Implementing and Utilizing Test Intelligence in Harness CI11%
8. Advanced CI Features and Troubleshooting in Harness11%
9. Implementation of Plugins and Extensions in Harness CI11%

Exam Objectives

List of Objectives

The following is a detailed list of exam objectives:

#Objective
1Understanding of CI/CD Concepts and Best Practices
1.1Distinguish between Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, and Continuous Deployment
1.2Identify key concepts related to CI/CD pipelines and their steps
1.3Recognize best practices for implementing CI/CD in software development workflows
2Harness CI Pipeline Creation and Optimization
2.1Construct a Harness CI pipeline and establish its stages and steps
2.2Diagnose and resolve common errors and issues within the CI pipeline
2.3Implement strategies to optimize pipeline execution and minimize build times
3Utilization and Management of Harness Connectors and Integrations
3.1Configure and manage various Harness Connectors (e.g., Docker, Git)
3.2Understand and implement integration with different platforms and OS
4Implementing and Managing Docker and Containerization in Harness CI
4.1Establish Docker connectivity and manage Docker connectors
4.2Develop and optimize Dockerfile configurations and image handling
4.3Diagnose and mitigate common Docker-related issues and errors
5Harness CI Configuration and Codebase Management
5.1Understand and implement the configuration of Harness CI Codebase
5.2Optimize and manage code repository, connectors, and trigger settings
6Authentication and Security Management in Harness CI
6.1Configure and manage authentication methods for various connectors (e.g., Git, Docker)
6.2Implement and utilize Secrets Management tools with Harness CI
6.3Understand and implement access control using Harness RBAC configurations
7Implementing and Utilizing Test Intelligence in Harness CI
7.1Configure and synchronize Harness Test Intelligence with main/master branches
7.2Implement strategies to improve and optimize test execution times
8Advanced CI Features and Troubleshooting in Harness
8.1Implement and utilize advanced features like caching and conditional executions in CI
8.2Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve common issues and errors in CI stages
9Implementation of Plugins and Extensions in Harness CI
9.1Understand, install, and manage plugins in the Harness CI environment
9.2Implement use-cases using various Harness CI and third-party plugins

Next Steps

The Continuous Integration Developer exam can start immediately after registering. Please allow up to 90 mins for the exam.

  1. Create an account in Harness University
  2. Register for an exam
  3. Take the exam

Prepare for the Exam

Get Certified | Harness Expert

Continuous Integration - Administrator

Harness Certified Expert - CIs AdministratorProduct version: Harness CI Enterprise Plan

Review Study Guide

Assesses the fundamental skills to deploy and maintain CI projects and the overall Harness Platform. This exam builds upon the CI Developer Certification.
TopicMaterial
1. Introduction to Harness and Key Concepts
Understand continuous integration fundamentals, including critical stages or stepsHarness CI
Grasp the core concepts: "Pipeline, Stages, Step Groups, Steps" and Harness hierarchy "Account, Organizations, Projects"Key Concepts
Familiarize with Harness Manager and the role of Harness Delegate for CI capabilityCI key concepts
2. Harness Build Infrastructure and Configuration
Explore Harness Cloud supported platforms, OS, and build infrastructuresUse Harness Cloud build infrastructure
Dive into CI Build Infrastructures and their diverse optionsHarness CI
Understand Ephemeral Environments and the specific requirements for a K8s Build environmentWhich build infrastructure is right for me
3. Artifact Management and Connectivity
Grasp Artifacts and Packages spanning from jar to container image, helm, and moreArtifacts Tab
Describe and configure Artifact Repositories like cont registry, object store, jfrog, nexus, etcConnect to an Artifact repository
Delve into Harness Connectors: configuration of Git, DockerHub, and moreConnectors
4. Harness CI Pipelines and Advanced Features
Master Codebase configuration, shared paths, and step library, including plugin configurationsConfigure codebase
Understand and set up advanced features like caching intelligence, test intelligence, and flow controlHarness CI Intelligence
Configure pipeline features, including triggers, input sets, failure strategies, looping, and notificationsPipeline creation overview
5. Pipeline Execution Strategies
Get to grips with execution environments: running steps on host vs. containersStage and step conditional execution settings
Manage outputs, PR status updates, and understand chained pipelinesOutput variables with chained pipeline
Delve into advanced options like timeouts, selective stage executions, and stage context sharingPipelines
6. Security and Access Control
Understand RBAC with user groups, roles, role bindings, and service account considerationsRBAC in Harness
Configure access and permissions, including tags and resource groupsPermissions Reference
Grasp the implications of anonymous Docker image pulls and other security considerationsDocker Connector Settings Reference
7. Authentication and User Management
Deep dive into OAuth, SAML, and SCIM integrationsAuthentication
Set up and manage credentials, user and group permissions, and moreManage user groups
Delve into debugging and troubleshooting techniques, including running pipeline steps locallyTroubleshoot CI
8. Policy-Based Governance and Compliance
Explore and configure policy as code with OPA and RegoHarness Policy As Code quickstart
Enforce governance within pipelines and understand templates for Harness CIManage access control for asset governance rules
Familiarize with account audit trails and their respective use casesView audit trail
9. Enterprise Features and Dashboards
Delve into Enterprise dashboards, including custom options like LookerBest practices for building dashboards
Explore Pipeline Studio's execution history and other related featuresInput sets and overlays
Get a handle on pipeline templatization for scalable CI solutionsBest practices and guidelines for templates

Exam Details

The Continuous Integration Administrator exam tests your knowledge and skills of the Harness Continuous Integration module.

Prerequisites

  • Intermediate terminal skills
  • Basic understanding of on-premise or cloud architecture
  • This exam builds upon the CI Developer Exam

Exam Details

Exam TypeDuration
Knowledge Exam90 minutes
Hands On Exam120 minutes
Covered Domain% of Coverage
1. Understanding and Managing Pipelines in Harness CI12%
2. Configuring Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in Harness12%
3. Implementing and Managing Authentication and Security12%
4. Working with Harness CI/CD Integration and Infrastructure12%
5. Utilizing and Managing Harness Connectors12%
6. Implementing and Leveraging Harness Variables and Expressions12%
7. Leveraging Harness Secret Management and Secret Usage12%
8. Managing Harness CI/CD Artifacts and File Store12%
9. Harness Delegate Configuration and Management16%

Exam Objectives

List of Objectives

The following is a detailed list of exam objectives:

#Objective
1Understanding and Managing Pipelines in Harness CI
1.1Define and work with Background Steps and Pipeline Chains
1.2Explore Child Pipelines and their transitions in Chaining
1.3Identify best practices for CI Pipeline Templates and breaking changes management
2Configuring Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in Harness
2.1Setup RBAC configurations for executing Chained Pipelines
2.2Understand the hierarchy level and scope where Roles can be created
2.3Explain how permissions are granted to a Service Account within the RBAC model
3Implementing and Managing Authentication and Security
3.1Implement various methods to increase Authentication security level
3.2Understand and work with different supported SSO methods
3.3Apply Harness Policy as Code to enforce governance and security practices
4Working with Harness CI/CD Integration and Infrastructure
4.1Comprehend how Harness CI integrates with GitHub Actions and other Git providers
4.2Discern how Harness Cloud deals with build infrastructures and related maintenance
4.3Know how to choose and configure build infrastructure options, including the use of Kubernetes
5Utilizing and Managing Harness Connectors
5.1Manage connectors for various platforms like GitHub, Docker Hub, and Artifact Repositories
5.2Determine settings for returning codebase variables to Harness via code repo connectors
5.3Develop strategies to avoid rate/throttling limiting issues when interacting with external repositories and platforms
6Implementing and Leveraging Harness Variables and Expressions
6.1Utilize JEXL expressions within pipeline variables for dynamic functionality
6.2Establish and reference variables across different hierarchy levels within Harness
6.3Recognize suitable scenarios for the utilization of built-in/custom variables in CI processes
7Leveraging Harness Secret Management and Secret Usage
7.1Recognize benefits and applications of secrets management within Harness CI
7.2Identify and rectify incidents involving the unintended exposure of Secrets
7.3Integrate external Secrets Management technologies into the Harness platform
8Managing Harness CI/CD Artifacts and File Store
8.1Understand and apply best practices for tagging and managing CI artifacts
8.2Identify and utilize the primary functionalities of the Harness File Store
8.3Determine appropriate methods for handling and storing different CI artifacts and dependencies
9Harness Delegate Configuration and Management
9.1Understand and explain the main role and function of the Harness Delegate
9.2Identify available options and best practices for installing and configuring the Harness Delegate
9.3Manage Delegate tags and utilize them effectively within CI processes and selectors

Next Steps

The Continuous Integration Administrator exam can start immediately after registering. Please allow 90 mins for the knowledge exam and approximately 90 minutes for the hands on exam.

  1. Create an account in Harness University
  2. Register for an exam. There is a $50 fee for the exam
  3. Review the instructions for the Hands On Exam
  4. Take the exams
    1. There will be a knowledge and hands on portion.

Prepare for the Exam

Get Certified | Harness Expert

Continuous Integration - Architect

Harness Certified Expert - CI ArchitectProduct version: Harness CI Enterprise Plan

Review Study Guide

Assess key technical job functions and advanced skills in design, implementation and management of CI. This exam builds upon the CI Admin Certification
ObjectiveMaterial
1. Understanding and Troubleshooting Harness Delegates
Manage and troubleshoot Kubernetes DelegatesInstall Harness Delegate on Kubernetes or Docker
Implement and troubleshoot networking and connectivity issuesTroubleshoot CI
2. Managing Build Environments and Dependencies
Navigate and solve issues in Docker-in-Docker build environmentsRun Docker-in-Docker in a Build stage
Implement and troubleshoot dependency caching mechanismsCache Intelligence
3. Implementing and Managing CI Pipelines
Develop and troubleshoot pipeline triggersTroubleshoot failed triggers
Optimize CI pipeline efficiency and speedOptimization strategies
4. Ensuring Security and Compliance in CI Pipelines
Implement secrets management and ensure secure build processesUse secrets managers
Adhere to the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) in CI/CDRoles and resource groups work together
5. Utilizing Test Intelligence in CI
Implement and manage Test Intelligence for optimizing testingTest Intelligence overview
Understand and troubleshoot test visualization and metricsView test reports and test selection
6. Managing and Troubleshooting Custom Build Tools and Binaries
Navigate issues with custom binary installations on DelegatesInstall a delegate with third-party tool custom binaries
Manage custom build tools and dependenciesDependency management strategies
7. Implementing Pipeline Optimizations and Strategies
Implement multilayer caching for pipeline optimizationsMultilayer caching
Utilize matrix and looping strategies for test executionUse looping strategies
8. Managing Connectivity and Networking in CI Pipelines
Ensure effective communication between Delegates, Harness Manager, and external servicesCommunication with Harness Manager
Troubleshoot connectivity issues in webhook triggers and pipeline stepsTroubleshoot CI
9. Implementing and Managing CI in Diverse Infrastructures
Manage and troubleshoot CI in Kubernetes build infrastructuresSet up a Kubernetes cluster build infrastructure
Implement and manage CI pipelines for MacOS and Windows build environmentsSet up a local runner build infrastructure

Exam Details

The Continuous Integration Architect exam tests your knowledge and skills of the Harness Continuous Integration module.

Prerequisites

Exam Details

Exam TypeDuration
Knowledge Exam90 minutes
Hands On Exam120 minutes
Covered Domain% of Coverage
1. Understanding and Troubleshooting Harness Delegates12%
2. Managing Build Environments and Dependencies12%
3. Implementing and Managing CI Pipelines12%
4. Ensuring Security and Compliance in CI Pipelines12%
5. Utilizing Test Intelligence in CI12%
6. Managing and Troubleshooting Custom Build Tools and Binaries12%
7. Implementing Pipeline Optimizations and Strategies12%
8. Managing Connectivity and Networking in CI Pipelines8%
9. Implementing and Managing CI in Diverse Infrastructures8%

Exam Objectives

List of Objectives

The following is a detailed list of exam objectives:

#Objective
1Understanding and Troubleshooting Harness Delegates
1.1Manage and troubleshoot Kubernetes Delegates
1.2Implement and troubleshoot networking and connectivity issues
2Managing Build Environments and Dependencies
2.1Navigate and solve issues in Docker-in-Docker build environments
2.2Implement and troubleshoot dependency caching mechanisms
3Implementing and Managing CI Pipelines
3.1Develop and troubleshoot pipeline triggers
3.2Optimize CI pipeline efficiency and speed
4Ensuring Security and Compliance in CI Pipelines
4.1Implement secrets management and ensure secure build processes
4.2Adhere to the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) in CI/CD
5Utilizing Test Intelligence in CI
5.1Implement and manage Test Intelligence for optimizing testing
5.2Understand and troubleshoot test visualization and metrics
6Managing and Troubleshooting Custom Build Tools and Binaries
6.1Navigate issues with custom binary installations on Delegates
6.2Manage custom build tools and dependencies
7Implementing Pipeline Optimizations and Strategies
7.1Implement multilayer caching for pipeline optimizations
7.2Utilize matrix and looping strategies for test execution
8Managing Connectivity and Networking in CI Pipelines
8.1Ensure effective communication between Delegates, Harness Manager, and external services
8.2Troubleshoot connectivity issues in webhook triggers and pipeline steps
9Implementing and Managing CI in Diverse Infrastructures
9.1Manage and troubleshoot CI in Kubernetes build infrastructures
9.2Implement and manage CI pipelines for MacOS and Windows build environments

Next Steps

The Continuous Integration Architect exam can start immediately after registering. Please allow up to 90 mins for the knowledge exam and up to 2 hours for the hands-on exam.

  1. Create an account in Harness University
  2. Register for an exam. There is a $50 fee for the exam
  3. Review the instructions for the Hands-On Exam
  4. Take the exams
    1. There will be a knowledge and hands-on portion.